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Watford boss Flores speaks warmly of Forest’s glory days

Quique Sanchez Flores: Doubts over his Watford future

Watford manager Quique Sanchez Flores has described it as a “pleasure and an honour” to be facing Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup.

The Hornets, who overcame Newcastle in the previous round, travel to the City Ground on Saturday to take on Dougie Freedman’s side.

Forest are only 11th in the Sky Bet Championship and it is now almost two decades since they last featured in the top flight after they were relegated in 1999.

But speaking ahead of his side’s fourth-round tie, Flores recalled fond memoires of Forest’s incredible back-to-back European Cup triumphs in 1979 and 1980 – the latter coming with a 1-0 victory over Hamburg in Madrid.

“I remember perfectly the final in the Bernabeu,” said Flores. “During that period there were only a few matches live on TV and this game was one of them.

“In this moment, Nottingham Forest were an amazing team in England so that is why we respect history and respect the team.

“They have a very good side, they are really organised. Sometimes they play with two strikers, and they have very energetic players in the middle.

“We respect them a lot and we are away so it is a pleasure and an honour to play against Nottingham Forest.”